Apparatus for measuring vibration



NOV. |..G. ROSS ET AL APPARATUS FOR MEASURING VIBRATION Filed June 29., 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l 'in 28 I Y l INVENTORJ l /Bq Cin/905s. BERNHED Z'BHL/.HRD

Nov. 19, 1935 l. G. Ross Er Al. 2,021,330

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING'VIBRATION Filed June 29, 1932- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR S /QA 67. @05s. fEeNn/eo TBQLLn/eo Nov..19, 1935. L Q ROSS HAL 2,021,330

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING VIBRATION Filed June 29, 1932 4 sheetssheet 5 12o INVENTORS /f'en 6'. Ross.

HEPA/HRD TBHLLHEQ Aop@ NOV. 19, C.;r R055 Er AL APPARATUS FOR MEASURING VIBRATION Filed June 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I w 2 g p f O' H! u u gj 0% u( m \P1 n 9i D VOLTAGE D l vl D E12 UQE j A Patented Nov. 19, 1935 ,y I i UNITED STATES PATENT, oFFicE APPARATUS FOR MEASURJNG VIBRATION Ira G. Ross, Chicago, and Bernard T. Ballard,

Lombard, Ill., assignors to United States Gypim Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of no s Application June 29, 1932, Serial No. 619,878

8 Claims.V (Cl. 177-352) This invention relates to instruments for measdrawings forming a part of this specification, inA uring vibration, such as that caused by moving which machinery. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through our im- In the study of the vibration of moving maproved vibration measuring apparatus,

5 chinery with a view of isolating the vibration, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with 5 it becomes necessary to have a, sensitive instrucover removed, l ment with which the amplitude and frequency of Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view through the the vibration can be accurately measured. With apparatus taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, some vibratory measurements, such as those pro- Fig. 4 is a sectional View through the appara- 10 i duced by the engines or motors of boats, elevatus taken 0n 11118.4-4 of Fig. 1,

tors, automobiles, etc., where low frequency, high Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through the ap- -amp1itude, movement of the body, etc., occur siparatus taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

multaneously and independently of the high fre- Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view through the quency vibration to be measured, it is necessary apparatus taken. on line 6-6 of Fig- 1, to have an instrument which will measure the `Fig.7 isa sectional View through the apparatus 15 high frequency vibration without being inuenced on line 1 1 of Fig. 1,

by the superimposed low frequency movement. FigL 8 is a seCtOIlai VieW thl'Ollgh the apparatus For these special boat and automobile problems, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2,

it is also necessary to have an instrument which Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram Showing the relatiOn is self-leveling in order that the vibration charof the vibration measuring instrument to the 20 acteristics of the motors can be accurately measinstruments fOr l'eCOldillg the Vibration Characured. -teristics of a moving machine.

An object of this invention therefore is to pro- Our improved instrument is of the electrodyvide a vibration measuring apparatus suitable namic type and is intended for use in connection for measuring and recording the vibration of with the measurement of amplitude and fre- 25 moving machinery and for also recording the viquency of vibration in conjunction with suitable bration of vibration insulating bases for said amplifying and recording devices. The instrumachinery. ment may be known as a seismometer. When Another object of the invention is to provide this instrument is subjected to a vibrators7 mo- 39 methods of and means for measuring high fretion from any source, it is capable of transferring 30 quency vibrations in the presence of low fre-v the physical impulses into electrical impulses corquency vibrations. responding in frequency and amplitude to that A further object of the invention is to provide 0f the imDOSed VibratiOn. The feeble alternating an apparatus of the class described which may current generated in the instrument. is built up be used in' the study of special problems, such as by means Jof a series of vacuum tube amplifiers the measurement of vibration in a. ship caused until it possesses sliieient POWeP t0 Operate a by its motors while the ship is rising and falling recording deviee- Throughout Ithis amplifieatien on the waves at a certain low frequency. process. the wave form remains unchanged. In

A further object of the invention Ais to provide order to `get a pictorial representation of this 19 an apparatus suitable for studying the action Wave form. use is made 0f an Ordinary string of range finders on shipboard, the vibration of oscillograph equipped With a Came1`a-W1'iieh removing automobiles from their motors, etc. vlOdllCes and Photographs the instantaneous A further object of thel invention is to provide Wave ferm at any time T0 establish the frean apparatus for measuring vibration which will quency of the Wave to be measured. use is made "-3 be self-leveling so as to insure the accuracy'of of a timing device which superimposes on the 45 the instrument regardless of the manner in which photographic record a secondary wave which a machinery base is rocking or rolling. possesses a constant frequency, the value of which A still further object (of the invention is to may be arbitrarily chosen by theoperator. provide a method of measuring and recording the The seismometer preferably consists in a cylin- .f/J vibrations of moving machinery through the drical housing I2 which is provided with a re- 50 use of our improved apparatus; also to improve movable bottom I3 attached to the housing by methods of and apparatus forymeasuring vibrameans of screws I4, and is also provided with a tion in other respects hereinafter specified and removable cover I5. The'cover I5'has aplurality claimed. of pairs of outstanding lugs I6, each pair of Reference is to be had to the accompanying which has a bolt I1 pivotally secured'thereto by 55 Cel means of pins I8. Outstanding forked lugs I9 are formed on the housing I2 to register with the lugs I6 so as to receive the bolts I 1 suspended from a pin I8. Knurled nuts 20 serve to tighten against the lugs I9 and secure the cover I5 in position on the housing. A plurality of legs 2| are provided with threaded sections 22 which screw into the bottom of the housing I2 and serve to support the housing upon a floor 23, machine base or any other structure subject to vibration from a movingv machine. The handle 24 is pivotally secured by means of pin 25 to the cover I5 so that the instrument can be readily carried from place to place for testing purposes.

Concentrically mounted within the housing I2, is an inner cylindrical housing 21 which is provided with a cover 28 secured to an outwardly extending ange 29 on housing 21 by means of screws 30. The bottom of the housing 21 has a frusto-conical section 3| which is closed at the bottom end by a circular plate 32 secured to the section 3| by means of screws 33. The housing 21 is suspended within the housing I2 by universal connections so that the housing 21 is always self-levelling. The universal connection consists of a ring 34 fitted within a recess 35 formed in the inner-wall of the housing I2, and a recess 36 formed in the inner-wall of the cover I5. A pair of diametrically opposite hubs 38 are formed on the inside surface of the ring 34, andv are adapted to receiving ball-bearings 39 which pivotally support the outer ends of a pair of studs 40. The inner-ends of studs 40 are provided with threaded sections 4| which engage in hubs 42 formed on a ring 43, the latter being concentrically mounted within the ring 34. A lock nut 44 serves to lock the threaded section and studs in any adjusted position. The ring 43 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite hubs 46 which are arranged at 90 to the hubs 42 and serve to receive the threaded section 41 of studs 48. Lock nuts 49 secure the studs 48 in any adjusted position. The rinner-ends of studs 48 are of reduced diameter and are pivotally supported in ball-bearings 50 which are carried in outstanding hubs 5| formed on the outside of housing 21.

, It will be noted that in Fig. 1 the apparatus is shown as being locked in position so that it can be carried from place to place without damage to the parts. In order to keep the housing 21 from swinging on its universal couplings during transportation, spring-held pressure feet 53 are connected to the inside of the cover I5 by means of screws 54 passing through said cover and threaded to engage the inside of a sleeve 55. A spring 56 encloses thesleeve 55 and extends between the cover I5 and a cover 51 secured to the top of each pressure foot 53. An annular ange 58 formed on the bottom of the sleeve 55 engages in an inside recess 59 formed in the pressure foot 53 so as to give a loose connection between said pressure foot and the rigidly held sleeve 55.

Mounted within the housing 21, is a cylindrical microphone shell 60 having an integral top 6| and an annular outstanding flange 62 around its bottom. The shell' 60 (see Fig. 5) is lined with an insulating material 63, and a field coil 64 ispositioned within the insulation 63, being wound around .a soft-iron magnet pole piece 65. A stud. 66 has a threaded section 61 of smaller diameter passing through the top 6|) and screwed into a tapped opening in the core pole 65. The stud 66 has an upper section 68 of Smaller diarneter, and an uppermost section 69 of still smaller diameter (see Fig. 1). -Section 68 is provided with threads 10 for engaging with a lock nut 1| which serves to confine a hub 12 between said lock nut and an annular shoulder 13 formed on the stud 66.

In order to resiliently suspend the shell 60 and its associated parte from the cover 28, a plurality of arms 15 of irregular shape (Fig. 3) are formed on the hub 12 and are provided on their outer ends with a hub 16 which rotatably receives the lower end of a tension adjustinglscrew 11, the latter being prevented from axial movementin the hub 16, but being provided inside the hub with a worm section engaging with a worm wheel rotatably mounted within a housing 19 formed on the outer end of each arm 15. The worm wheel has a shaft passing transversally through the vertical wall of housing 19, and said shaft is connected with the inner-end of coil spring which is coiled about said shaft, the outer-end of ,each coil spring 80 being secured by'lug 8| to a spring housing 82 secured to a spacer member 83, the latter being rigidly mounted upon housing 19. An opening 84 is provided in the cover 28 above each of the adjusting screws 11 so that a screwdriver may be inserted through said opening to engage a slot 85 in the screw head 11. 'Ihe housing 82 is rotatably mounted with reference to the housing 19 and a tape 86 extends around the periphery of said housing 82, one end of said tape being secured by a pin 81 to said housing 82. The tape 86 passes upwardly over an annular winding drum 88.which is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 89 (Fig. 8) said shaft being provided with a worm wheel 90 which engages with a worm .9| formed on a stud 92, said stud 92 being rotatably received in a bearing block 93 secured to the cover 28 by means of screws 94. The outer-end of stud 92 is provided with a knurled adjusting head 95 so that by adjusting each of the three heads 95, a central and concentric position of the shell 60 relative to the housing 21 is maintained at all times. The outer end of stud 92 is rotatably received within a spring cylinder 92a 45 having a coil spring 92h confined between the end of cylinder 92a and a screw 92e threaded into the end of stud 92 so as to resiliently urge said The stud section 69 passes upwardly to a point a short distance above the cover 28 through an opening 91 formed in said cover. This stud section 69 has a plurality, preferably 3 in number; of oppositely disposed pairs of slots 98, 99, and |00 formed at different heights thereon, these slots being arranged to receive 'a locking slide |0| which is slidably mounted on the top of the cover 28. The slide 0| is'provided with a slot m2 for receiving guide screws |03 which are threaded into the cover 28 and also serve to limit the sliding movement of said slide IOI. An upturned end |04 is formed on the slide 0| for manual manipulation in moving said slide |0| into or out of engagement with the stud section 69. As seen in Fig. 1 with the apparatus locked in position for transportation, the slide ||l| engages with the upper slot |60 so as to hold the shell 60 in its lowermost position with a cover |05, secured to the ange 62, resting in contact with a felt ring 7 |66, which is supported on outstanding arms |01 formed on the inside of the housing 21.

The lower end of the magnet core 65 extends substantially below the iield coil 64 and an armature coil |09 .wound in cylindrical form on stud axially andI resistthe thrust action of theV50 an insulating cylinder, telescopically surrounds the lower end of said core 65. When the coil 64 is energized by passing a direct current therethrough, the core 65 is magnetized and a magnetic iiux surrounds the armature coil |09 so that any movement of the armature coil |09 relative to the core 65 sets up an alternating current in said armature coil, and said alternating current is led through terminals |I0 connected to said armature coil and to an amplifying and recording system to be hereinafter described.

The armature coil |09 is connected at its ends to a ring III which in turn supports an annular spider |I2 of insulating material, said spider |I2 having outstanding tangentially extending arms 3 of high flexibility and sensitivity which are preferably three in number as seen in Fig. 7. The outer end of each of the arms I3 is connected to a -bolt I I4 which passes through the shell bottom |05 and is provided with spacer sleeves ||5 and ||6 on each side of said bottom, for accurately positioning the arms I3 relative to the core 65, and a similar set of flexible and insulating spider arms ||1 connected to the upper end of the armature coil |09 inside the shell 60. The arms ||3 and |1 are preferably made of laminated phenol condensation material and have sufficient flexibility so as to permit the vertical Vreciprocation of the armature coil |09 frequencies, a high frequency vibration as might be caused by the motorsof a boat, or other moving machinery, and very low frequency vibration which might be caused by the rolling and pitching of a boat upon a rough sea, or the movement of an automobile travelling over a rough road. The low frequency movements or vibrations generally have a high amplitude and normally tend to cause the slow movement of the microphone shell 60. By high frequency, we means frequency above 1-1/2 cycles per second. Because of the low frequency movement of the housings I2 and 21, it is impossible to employ a rigid coupling between theI frame of the seis- -mometer and the amature coil |09, since the microphone shell 60 is. moving slowly with vrespect to said housing. l

To permit the movement of the microphone shell 60 due to low frequency movement of the surface 23, and still maintain a positive coupling for high-frequencies between the housing 21 and the armature coil |09, we provide a rodl |20 which is connected by a flexible piece of lspring steel |2| to a rod section |22, the latter being secured by a bolt |23 to a'double diaphragm |24 which is preferably annular in shape and is secured to the inside of the armature coil |09. The diaphragm t24-is preferably formed into a pair of semi-spherical, opposltely facing members |25 which serve to give rigidity to the ,dia-

phragm |24. The rod |20 is positioned to engage between a grooved roller |21 which is secured upon a. shaft |28, and a grooved roller |29 which is rotatably supported upon bearing points I 30 rigidly secured to a pair o f bell crank, lever arms |3I.v The shaft |28 is rotatably supported in bearings |32 which are formed on a bracket |33, and the outer-ends of the shaft |28 have secured to them a pair of high-inertia, weighted iiywheels |34 for retardlng the rotation of shaft |28 resulting from frictional contact of the roller |21 on rod |20. The lever arms I3I are formed integrally with a hub |35 which is rotatably supported by means of pin |36 between a pair of upstanding legs |31 formed on a bracket |38 which is secured by screws |39 to the'housing bottom 32. A lever armA |40 extends upwardly from hubv |35, and its upper end is provided with a laterally extending flange |4| which is attached by a connecting wire |42 to a coil spring |43. The upper end of spring |43 is connected to the lower end of a screw |44 which has a threadedsection |45 arranged to be received in a bushing |46 carried by flange |41 formed on the housing 21. The upper end of screw |44 extends through the cover 28 and is provided with a will transmit high vfrequency movements of housings I2 and 21 through the rod 20 to the armature coil |09 without rotating the inertia iiywheels |34. However, very low frequency movement of the housing 21 will cause the ilywheels to rotate and permit relative movement l between housing 21 and shell 60.

In Fig. 9 a wiring diagram is shown in which other necessary apparatus Yin circuit with our seismometer are illustrated. A storage battery |50 is connected by wires |5I to terminal posts |52 on the housing I2, an ammeter |53 being included in seriesiin the circuit -|5|. The posts |52 are secured on a piece of ,insulation |54 which is secured.to the housing I2 by screws |553. Wires |55 lead from posts |52l to posts |56 which are mounted on a piece of insulation |51, the latter being secured to the movable housing 21 by screws |58. Wires |59 lead from posts |56 to field winding posts |60 which are mounted on shell 60 but are insulated therefrom, said posts |60 being connected to eld winding 64. The armature coil |09 is connected to terminal posts ||0 and the latter 'in turn are I connected by wires |6| in a closed circuit including a resistance ycoil |62 having a movable connent photographic records of the vibratorymovements.

In operation, the seismometer housing 21 is set upon the floor 23 or other body whose vibratory movement is to be studied. The inner housing`21 hangsexactly vertically due to its universal suspension on pivot studs 4 8, -said studs 48 being carried on the ring 43 which in turn is p ivotally supported on studs 40 mounted on rthe housing I2. The cover I5 of the seismometer is now removed after unscrewing -the nuts 20, the removal of the cover |5 serving to release the springfheld pressure feet 53 from the cover 28 of the inner housing 21,'thus leaving the latter free to swing to an exactly vertical position; The

slideA |0| is now moved longitudinally to release the stud section 69 thus allowing said stud and the connected field winding shell 60 to rise vertically somewhat out of contact with the stop ring |06 under the action of supporting coll springs 80. The tension Aof the springs 80 is adjusted by means of adjusting heads 95 which rotate drums 88 and wind or unwind tapes 86 which are cured to the spring housing 82.

The armature coil |09 telescopes around the magnet pole 65 which is energized by direct current passing through the iield coil 64. Armature coil |09 is supported on flexible spider rings |I2 and I I1 so that it is free to vibrate axially under the influence of vibratory forces. In order to transmit high frequency vibrations from housings I2 and 21 to the armature coil |09, rod |20 passes freely through an opening in the housing bottoni 32, and also passes between the pair of grooved friction rolls |21 and |29 which are rotatably supported by brackets |33 and |31 respectively on the housing bottom 32. Roller |29 exerts a yielding pressure against the rod |20 through lever |40, wire |42 and spring |43. The high and low frequency vibrations to which surface 23 is subjected, due, for example, to the combined action of a moving machine and the substantially vertical rising and falling of surface 23 in a boat or an automobile in motion, cause a similar vibration to take place in housings I2 and 21 since the seismometer is positioned directly and rmly upon surface 23. Shell 60 and its connected parts, including coil |09 and rod |20, being substantially freely suspended within housing 21 by means of arms 15, springs 80, and tapes 86, will, however, due to the forces of gravity and inertia, tend to maintain a uniform level when housings l2 and 21 are vibrated perpendicularly. Thus, as housings I2 and '21 vibrate up and down, shell 60 and magnet 65 will move up and down obversely within the instrument, slowly for low frequency vibrations and rapidly for vthe concurrent high frequency vibrations. Under the iniiuence of the low frequency vibrations and the relatively slow movement of the magnet assembly,` rqd |20, which is frictionally engaged by rollers' |21 and |29, will cause rotation of these friction rollers because the movement is relatively gradual enough to overcome inertia wheels |34 so as to cause their rotation. The movement of rod |20 under the influence of high frequency vibrations, however, is too rapid to overcome inertia wheels |34 whereby to cause rolls |21 and |29 to rotate, and since these rolls are connected to bottom 32 of housing 21, it is apparent that during high frequency vibrations, rod |20 will be prevented from following the movements of magnet 65 but will be caused to follow the vibratory movements imparted to the housings from surface 23. Since rod |20 is connected to coil |09, which is resiliently held by spiders ||2 and ||1, coil |09 will likewise be prevented from following the movements of magnet 65 during high frequency vibrations, whereby the end of magnet 65 is reciprocated axially within coil |09 which is in the magnetic field surrounding said magnet.

Thus, alternating electrical impulses 'are gener-i ated in coil |09 and pass through wires I6| and |65 into the amplier |64, from which the ampliiied impulses pass through wires |66 to the oscillograph |61 where the vibration wave traces are translated by means of an oscillating li'ght beam projected on a ground glass plate into an.

animated visible record of the amplitude and intensity of the vibrations, which may then be photographed for permanent record. Direct current for energizing the eld coil 64 passes through wires from a storage battery |50. The universal connection between housings I2 and 21 permits housing 21 to maintain a position substantially axially perpendicular to the earths surface, whereby distortion or other interference with the relatively fine adjustment of the magnet and rod assembly will be prevented, without destroying the necessary substantially direct vibrational connection of housing 21 and rolls |21 and 5 |29 with vibrating surface 23. The reduced diameter of frusto-conical section 3| of housing 21 permits said housing to swing in a substantial arc within housing I2 when thelatter housing is caused to side-sway. l 10 We would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves precisely to these details since manifestly, the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

l. In a vibration measuring instrument, an electromagnet of substantial mass, housing means for movably and resiliently supporting said magnet on a surface subject to high and low frequency vibrations, an armature coil positioned in the magnetic ux of said magnet and yieldingly connected to said magnet, and controlling means connccted to said coil arranged to retard the movement of said coil relative to said magnet due to low frequency vibrations, said controlling means being arranged to cause the 30 vibration of said coil relative to said magnet due to high frequency vibration of said surface whereby to generate electric impulses corresponding to said high frequency vibrations.

2. In an instrument of the class described an electromagnet of substantial mass, means for resiliently supporting sai-d magnet on a surface subject to high and low frequency vibrations, an armature coil positioned in the magnetic flux of said magnet and yieldingly connected to said magnet, a rod connected to said coil, and means connecting said rod to said surface and arranged to cause the vibration of said coil relative to 'said magnet due only to the high frequency vibration of said surface.

3. In a vibration measuring apparatus; a member for contacting with a surface vibrating with low frequency vibrations superimposed upon high frequency vibrations; and means'for selectively electrically recording the high frequency vibrations and eliminating the low frequency vibrations, comprising coil and magnetic core elements supported by said member to swing as a unit under the inuence of said low frequency vibrations, and means for halting the free swinging of one of said elements under the influence of high frequency vibrations whereby relative movement between said elements takes place and alternating electric impulses are created in said coil.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a mag'- net, a coil in the magnetic flux of said magnet,

' .said magnet and coil having a common resilient support permitting joint movement of said magnet and coil upon low frequency vibrations of said support, and means connected tos said coil and preventing certain movements of said coil whereby' said coil is prevented from moving with said magnet upon high frequency vibrations of said support, and the lines of magnetic flux araintersected by the Acoil to generate electric im` pulses during said high frequency vibrations.

5. In a vibration measuring instrument, an

ielectro-magnet of substantial mass, means for 2,021, aso

-ment of said rolls and rod, and means for varying subject to high and low frequency vibrations, an armature coil positioned in the magnetic ux of said magnet and yieldingly' connected to said magnet, a rod connected to said coil, opposed friction rolls rotatably mounted on said supporting means and engaging said rod, said rolls being adapted to be rotated by axial 'movement of said u rod, and a ily Wheel of high rotary inertia connected to one of said rolls and arranged to permit rotation of said friction rolls only when said rod is moved in the presence of low frequency vibrations, said fly Wheel being adapted to hold said friction rolls and rod substantially motionless during high frequency vibrations of said support so as to cause vibrations of said coil relative to said magnet due only to the high frequency vibrations of said surface.

6. In an instrument of the class described, an electro-magnet of substantial mass, means for resiliently supporting said magnet on a surface subject to high and low frequency vibrations, an armature coil positioned in the magnetic iiux of said magnet and yieldingly connected to said magnet, a rod connected to said coil, opposed friction rolls rotatably mounted on said supporting' means and engaging said rod, said rolls being adapted to rotate as said rod is moved axially, a iiy wheel connected to one of said rolls and having a high rotary inertia so as to allow said friction rolls to rotate during relatively slow movement of said rod, but prevent sudden movethe pressure of said rolls upon said rod to obtain the proper operative adjustment.

7..V In an instrument of the class described, an

electro-magnet of substantial mass, means for magnet, a rod connected to said coil, friction 10 4 rolls rotatably mounted on said supporting means and engaging said rod to govern the axial movements of said rod, and means for varying the pressure of said Irolls upon said rod.

8. In a vibration measuring instrlmient, an 15 electro-magnet of substantial mass, means for resiliently supporting said magnet on a surface subject to high and low frequency vibrations, an. armature coil positioned in the magnetic ux of said magnet and yieldingly connected to said. 20 magnet, a rod connected to said coil, opposed friction rollers rotatably mounted on said supporting means and engaging said rod, a lever for pivotally supporting one of said rolls in contact with said rod, spring means for resiliently urg- 25 ing said last mentioned roll toward said rod, and means for adjusting the tension in said spring to secure operative adjustment of said rolls.

IRA G. ROSS. BERNARD T. BALLARD. 

